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Men’s Shed gives toys

Handmade wooden toys will go into hampers for youngsters this Xmas
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Every Christmas, Clearwater Food Bank and Clearwater New Life Assembly include toys in the family hampers for all the children who use the food bank. Over the past few years, between 40 to 60 youngsters under the age of 12 typically belong to families who use the service, according to food bank spokesperson Pearl Broswick.

This year those children will get some special gifts - handmade wooden toys from Clearwater’s Men’s Shed. On Thursday, Oct. 6, members of the Men’s Shed presented food bank representatives with the toys.

“We’re very excited that the Mens Shed has decided to join up with us on this project,” said Broswick.

Last Thursday also marked the one-year anniversary of the Mens Shed. The group began on Oct. 6, 2021, said spokesperson Ray Harms.

Projects completed over the year include a wind-phone along the trail behind Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital, a bench for Forest View Place extended care, a blender-bike plus two boxes of toys.

District of Clearwater councillor and Wells Gray Seniors Society coordinator Lynne Frizzle came up with the idea for a Men’s Shed for Clearwater. She had noted that the majority of activities put on for seniors locally attracted mostly women. She figured the men needed a place to go and, after some research, found Men’s Sheds, a program found all over the world.